Pediatric Nurse Salary

If you are thinking about starting a career as a pediatric nurse, you should know that there is a steady salary in store for you. Most people are surprised by how high their pediatric nurse salary is after they get out of college, but that is because this is a very specialized field of nursing. If you work well with children and enjoy working in the medical field, you could reap the great rewards of pediatric nursing in the future. In this article, we lay out the factors that may influence your pediatric nurse salary so you can determine how much you might be able to earn in the future.

Pediatric Nurse Salary by Industry

Pediatric nursing specialists can work in many different industries, and their job duties are usually related to the industries they choose to find employment in. You may start your career at a public hospital in your area, but you could move into another industry over time if you wanted to. Popular industries for pediatric nurses include:

Healthcare: $26,349 – $82,500

Hospital: $27,617 – $61,825

Pediatrics: $10,304 – $96,958

Pediatric Nurse Salary by Certification

As you progress through your career, it may be wise to go through training for certifications so you can become a more versatile employee. Employers like to see applicants that are certified in multiple areas because it shows that they are committed to being the best workers they can be. Here are some of the most common certifications that pediatric nurses obtain, along with a list of salary levels you may see with each of them:

Advanced Cardiac Life Support: $35,608 – $59,499

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: $33,040 – $76,025

Critical Care: $14,895 – $119,195

Registered Nurse: $22,000 – $76,471

Pediatric Nurse Salary by Specialty

If you choose to specialize in a certain area of pediatric nursing in college, you could see a pay increase from your employer. That is because you will have a greater understanding of a certain branch of nursing, making you more of an expert in your line of work. Common specializations in nursing include:

Emergency Room (ER): $23,583 – $59,762

Intensive Care Unit (ICU): $36,438 – $61,983

Labor & Delivery, Birthing: $24,161 – $99,329

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: $31,676 – $70,907

Nursery: $19,329 – $99,329

Pediatrics: $24,613 – $75,532

Pediatric Nurse Salary by Degree

Most pediatric nurses choose to get a bachelor’s degree related to this field of study, but some move on to higher degree levels when they want to get a promotion. Your college degree will have an impact on how easily you can get hired, and that may determine how much money you earn in the future. Possible earnings for pediatric nurses by degree are as follows:

Bachelor’s Degree: $28,000 – $95,000

Bachelor of Science in Nursing: $31,785 – $88,084

Pediatric Nurse Salary by Employer Type

Some employers pay better money than others based on the amount of money they have on hand to pay their employers. Possible earnings based on employer types include:

Hospital: $27,583 – $79,067

Private Practice/Firm: $28,000 – $57,391

Pediatric Nurse Salary by Years of Experience

As you gain experience as a pediatric nurse, you will become a more desirable employee. Luckily, you will be rewarded handsomely for that desirability. Here is a look at how your pediatric nurse salary may change throughout your career:

1-4 years: $19,794 – $64,564

5-9 years: $20,426 – $117,446

10-19 years: $38,527 – $67,813

Pediatric Nurse Salary by Hospital Setting

Some pediatric nurses make more money than others based on the kinds of offices they work in. Your possible salary levels by hospital setting include:

General Hospital: $31,562 – $91,231

Physician’s Office or Private Practice: $10,213 – $73,404

Pediatric Nurse Salary by State

Your location will play a big role in calculating your pediatric nurse salary, primarily because of the cost of living in your area. Here are some of the most popular states for pediatric nursing positions:

California: $19,866 – $117,446

Florida: $44,000 – $67,959

Georgia: $40,000 – $80,000

Texas: $30,521 – $70,053

Note that the information above is courtesy of PayScale.com as of January 8, 2012. It may not reflect the information at the time you read this article.